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“C’mon El Sin Nombre.. use that pretty little head. You know me” she thought on it still drawing a blank because it’s a lot of people it could be. Then he leaned back down “Yer erse is oot the windae lass?” Her eyes went wide as moons “Hawk? Is that you Soapy boy? Ain’t no fucking way I had a sicario go to your funeral just to be sure.” He smiled as he took off the helmet “que carajo.. cristo.. ni siquiera el infierno quería tu culo loco.”
Thankfully this time around he’s been around long enough. In Mexico to actually know the language. “Bien y verdaderamente” then he put his mask back on. “Here’s how this plays out.. I ain’t asking you to kick in with me. I’m telling you.. eighty ten and in return.. I keep los vaqueros off your back. Total protection.. but you stop schmoozing up to kids they’re off limits.” She smiled “very ambitious Soapy boy.. wonder what Rudy and Alejandro would say if they could see you now.”
And that was the limit his eyes darkened “if I find out you snitched. I’m gonna come back… kill your entire crew one by one by one. Until I get to you.. then I’m gonna take my time making you suffer. Before I turn myself in.” Fucking Christ on a bike “ain’t no way you’re really Soap.. you’ve gotta be a fucking demon or a skin walker.”
He tilted his head in consideration for a minute. “I came back from the dead lass… you really think I came back pure a hundred percent Johnny? Naivety isn’t a good look on you Valeria.” He made sure his helmet was secured and if she had to guess. That his onboards were working as well.
“Oh and make no mistake.. I didn’t reveal myself cause I like you. I did it to make my life easier. It’s annoying killing all your sicarios it’s also a good thing. I don’t place any stock in my self worth. Based off the competency of my enemies. Otherwise I would be really fucking insulted.” Valeria was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that this pendejo. Is Johnny he looks and sounds like him but this is not the kid she knew.
The hell did whoever the crazy fucker who brought him back do? Second thought.. for her sanity Valeria would rather not fucking know. “Oh and quit it with the fucking ride or die shit with the locals. A lot of kids lose their parents cause you idiots have convinced them to do something dumb.”
She watched him leave and realized with a bit of reluctant pride that gringo. Has her in a double jeopardy mutually assured destruction. If she doesn’t do what white boy says he kills her. If she narcs on him to them or 141 same thing happens.
Eighty ten split is ambitious though.. she’s half tempted to call the Winchesters.
From what she understood Leather and helmet is fucking with los vaqueros. He could easily kill them.. but a part of him doesn’t want to. A small comfort that there’s humanity left in the kid.
Valeria despite earlier that week wasn’t naive enough to believe he would actually protect her men. Then one night like something outta fucking Skyrim. Despite going to sleep in her own bed. She woke up in a chair.. looking around. Valeria was relieved (how fucked up is that.) To see a familiar skull mask, mutton chops and an angry Britt. The American was new though .. what in the topsy turvy.
“What can you tell us about the guy in the helmet and leathers?” She considered it gods did she consider it but then thought better of it. “Believe me.. it may not seem like it but I’m protecting you all.” They all looked between each other. “You especially Escalofriante” she looked at Ghost directly in the eyes. Then she said honestly “I’m under double jeopardy mutually assured destruction. I snitch he wholesales my entire crew then hunts me down. Trust me when I say.. you’re better off not knowing who it is.”
Price considered the gravity of the situation. “Alright.. then what can you tell us that won’t put a giant target in your back?” She sighed “he popped up a month ago and has been hell on business. You remember how we used to win over the people yes?” Ghost nodded “as Johnny used to say.. guns balloons and kids.”
Valeria had to fight the urge to smirk “yeah… he’s doing it better by offering protection. To send a message he sent a bag of the heads of all my lieutenants. That took him two hours in a night he managed to turn Las Almas against us.” There’s also the fact that even if she did tell them. No way in hell the gringos would believe her.
“So he’s turned the tables on you… impressive. And los vaqueros can’t seem to catch him either. He’s not killing them though just knocking them out.” Valeria was honestly glad that’s all he’s doing to them. Giving how ruthless he is with her guys. There’s still Johnny boy in there though it seems his rage is only directed towards criminals.
“Anti hero doesn’t kill the good guys but has zero qualms about getting his hands dirty. There was a brief dust up in AM where we got a first glimpse of his handiwork. Entire AQ stronghold dead violently.”
Now that she didn’t know but it tracks given Hassan was a thorn in his side for that long. Soap wanted the man dead simply on the principle that he’d escaped way too many times before. And now that he can get away with it.. there’s nothing stopping him from systematically destroying AQ.
The Wolfe at least had a valid reason unlike Hassan whom while he understood army tactics. Was a walking contradiction given they conspired with the very Russians. Who helped Barkov occupy Urzikstan.
If Valeria had to hazard a guess he made the move down here. Because continued fuckery in both places. Had started to draw the attention of his old TF. And he likely can’t bring himself to harm Price, Keller, Ghost especially or Gaz. Which again it’s good to know there’s some humanity left in him.
He’s got territories and interests to protect anywhere where he saw a lot of injustice. He reminded her a lot of Red Hood.. Las Almas is his crime alley. Lucky them.
“That’s all I can tell you gringos that’s probably already too much anyway.” True to their word they did let her go and later that night. In popped forgoing his helmet and leathers for a look akin to Graves’ shadows.
A lot more inconspicuous “don’t worry I didn’t tell them much. Not that they would’ve believed me had I outed you. Which was fucking clever on your part by the way.” He shrugged “I didn’t sell my soul in hopes of a reunion anyway. Lt’s mind would shatter if he knew. Thanks for not telling him.. you didn’t havta you could’ve fucked with me.” She scoffed “don’t pretend like you wouldn’t have had my head on a pike if I did.”
He smirked “you forgot gringo I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have.” He quipped “and yet I’m still doing it better. You gave them two options that both end in death. I gave them a third.. a way out. Anyway I do have a reason for this visit. I need you to keep 141 off my trail since they know you know who I am. And that they don’t want to know it’s put me under a microscope. Since I can’t kill you for it without that coming to bite me. We’re going to make it work for me understand?”
It was becoming painfully obvious that he knew this would happen. And he’s using this as a way to tighten the noose around her neck. “Even if they don’t believe you.. you’ve still made my job a lot harder. I’m starting to regret not just wholesaling you all and figuring the rest out later.” He pinched the bridge of his nose “you really are more trouble than you’re worth. I’m surprised you haven’t tried to rent a giant blimp.”
To be fair she’d considered it.. just like she considered telling Ghost what his Johnny boy has become.